What is Obamacare?

Obamacare is the colloquial name for the Affordable Care Act, the first major US healthcare reform since 1965.

Enacted in 2010, Obamacare aims to extends health insurance to the estimated 15 per cent of the US population without coverage.

Unlike Britain the US has no national free healthcare system and most Americans are required to purchase insurance privately or through their employer, or else pay for treatment upfront.

The act makes it a legal requirement for all US citizens to have health insurance and offers subsidies to make coverage affordable.

Businesses with more than 50 full-time employees are required to offer employees healthcare plans, and insurance companies are banned from turning away people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Young people are allowed to remain on their parents’ plans until the age of 26, and the government-funded Medicaid programme for the poor has been expanded.

Why does Trump want to repeal Obamacare?

President Trump has called Obamacare an “incredible economic burden”, and claims that it has “tragically but predictably resulted in runaway costs, websites that don’t work, greater rationing of care, higher premiums, less competition and fewer choices.”

Republicans have opposed the reforms since they were first proposed at the start of Mr Obama’s presidency in 2009.

Right-wing politicians described the law as a “job-killer” – despite a 9 per cent rise in health care sector employment since the act was implemented.

A statement on his website claims that: “On day one of the Trump Administration, we will ask Congress to immediately deliver a full repeal.”

Donald Trump becomes 45th U.S. PRESIDENT
Fri, January 20, 2017

The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States will mark the commencement of the four-year term of Donald Trump as President and Mike Pence as Vice President. A public ceremony will be held on Friday, January 20, 2017, on the West Front of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

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US President Donald Trump points to the stands as he walks with his wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade.

How will Trump replace Obamacare?

The former real estate developer and businessman has proposed a return to free market principles for the health care sector.

“We will work with Congress to make sure we have a series of reforms ready for implementation that follow free market principles and that will restore economic freedom and certainty to everyone in this country, his website explains.

“By following free market principles and working together to create sound public policy that will broaden healthcare access, make healthcare more affordable and improve the quality of the care available to all Americans.”

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Obamacare aims to provide healthcare insurance to the 15 per cent that have no coverage

Mr Trump demands that the law requiring Americans to purchase health insurance is abolished and proposes that individuals are allowed to use tax-free Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to pay for treatments.

He also wants to modify law that prevents the sale of insurance across state lines and says that insurance premiums should become fully tax-deductible to encourage competition.

Under his plans, Americans will be able to shop around for the best prices as healthcare providers, doctors and hospitals are forced to be fully transparent with prices.